This all gets pretty straightforward if you do the sensible thing and start from the premise that, yes, vampires are supernatural.
Blood gets burned, or some essence in it gets consumed. Sunlight burns because it's the embodiment of a purifying power in the universe; maybe that can be invoked on smaller scales, maybe not, but the search for it could make for an interesting story. (*makes note to self*) Shapeshifting doesn't cost intelligence because the vampire's soul carries its consciousness across forms. This also suggests the possibility of human magicians learning to do the same. (*makes another note*)
As for breath: vampires still have lungs. They can still respire for speech even though they don't need it for oxygenation or the discharge of waste gases.
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Date: 2009-07-09 10:26 pm (UTC)Blood gets burned, or some essence in it gets consumed. Sunlight burns because it's the embodiment of a purifying power in the universe; maybe that can be invoked on smaller scales, maybe not, but the search for it could make for an interesting story. (*makes note to self*) Shapeshifting doesn't cost intelligence because the vampire's soul carries its consciousness across forms. This also suggests the possibility of human magicians learning to do the same. (*makes another note*)
As for breath: vampires still have lungs. They can still respire for speech even though they don't need it for oxygenation or the discharge of waste gases.